Tottenham v Fulham

Dimitar Berbatov returned to haunt his old club as he grabbed Fulham's winner to dent Tottenham's hopes of a top-four league finish.

Gareth Bale had an early Spurs header cleared off the line by defender Sascha Riether but the home side looked jaded.

Berbatov struck when he slotted in a low Riether cross before team-mate Brede Hangeland headed just wide.

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Fatigue not a problem - Villas-Boas

Spurs' Jermain Defoe had a close-range shot brilliantly saved by Mark Schwarzer late on as Fulham held on.

Berbatov did not celebrate his winner against his former employers, although Tottenham's rivals for a top four spot, Arsenal and Everton, who both won on Saturday and have a game in hand, will be overjoyed.

Spurs now lead north London neighbours Arsenal by just four points and are six ahead of the Toffees in the chase for a Champions League spot for next season..

The victory was Fulham's first in 10 games at White Hart Lane since 2003 and will raise fears among Spurs fans over the kind of collapse they suffered towards the end of last season, which ultimately cost them a Champions League place.

Analysis

Martin FisherMatch of the Day commentator

"Fulham deserved the three points but are Tottenham throwing away a Champions League spot for a second season in succession? Mark Schwarzer's save from Jermain Defoe near the end was key as Dimitar Berbatov got the winner against his former club."

The home side, who dropped a place to fourth after Chelsea's win, were not helped by an exhausting Europa League tie, which went to extra-time, at Inter Milan on Thursday night on the back of last Sunday's defeat at Liverpool.

Nevertheless, against a Fulham side which had not played since 2 March, the White Hart Lane outfit struggled to get going.

Bale was back in the Spurs side after being suspended for the trip to Italy and was part of five changes made by manager Andre Villas-Boas.

The Wales international, who was signed by Spurs in 2007 by now-Cottagers boss Martin Jol, quickly went close when his steered header from corner was cleared off the line by Riether.

However, a rusty Fulham's lack of action for two weeks and a tired Tottenham's heavy schedule made for a low-key game as both sides lacked rhythm and sharpness.

Berbatov did put in a dangerous low cross just before half-time, which keeper Hugo Lloris parried and hooked clear before the lurking Bryan Ruiz could pounce.

Match facts

Tottenham's defeat by Fulham resulted in their first defeat at home since 3 November.

Fulham manager Martin Jol left Tottenham in 2007 and won for the first time in four league games against his former club.

Villas-Boas brought on ex-Fulham forward Clint Dempsey for injured centre-back Michael Dawson at the break, although his side were dealt a blow after 52 minutes.

Bale had a long-range shot saved by keeper Schwarzer and Fulham went straight up the other end and scored, with Berbatov turning in a low cross from overlapping right-back Riether.

Minutes later, Fulham almost added a second but centre-back Hangeland nodded inches wide after Ruiz flicked on a Giorgos Karagounis corner.

Villa-Boas threw on striker Defoe in a bid to salvage something from the game and the move would have paid off had it not been for Schwarzer's heroics.

Schwarzer then pulled off a fantastic reaction save at point-blank range after the England international tried to sidefoot in a Bale cross at the near post. And Fulham saw the game out to inflict a first home defeat on Spurs since 3 November.

Fulham manager Martin Jol:
"To get a win here against my old club is fantastic.

"In the first half we restricted them. We knew they could have been a bit tired.

"We could have scored a second goal but we didn't and they could have got a point out of it at the end. Mark Schwarzer made an incredible save and, at the end, it was nerve-racking."

Hello, James. I see the bad penny has turned up once again. Given the amount of time you spend sending messages to us, you cannot have any time left to say something about Les Goons, which suggests you haven't anything positive to say about them. Of course, if you had, you would need to do that on the Arsenal site.

@ Gunner141 - don't give us that "we can't compete against the millionaires" rubbish ! Wenger has spent over £100m in the last 2 seasons !! If he didn't play people out of position and choose mickey mouse tactics we would be competing like we used to !

@ Everyone - why is it so hard to believe James ? I know loads of pro ballers, many Premier league and Championship, so why can't he ?!!

570 - I know, it is disgraceful and everything in the UK is being ruined it seems. But the tragic thing isn't just them buying trophies, but fair competition in general and earning the right to be in the league. We all know that there is no pride in buying a trophy and only plastics get off on that. A pal of mine stopped going when RA took over, even Chelsea have real fans!

ManU,like AFC & LFC,have been one of the UKs top teams for over 70 years,winning titles,cups and intl trophies in numerous different decades before '92.They always had a history,a large fan base,tradition etc.CFC had won 4 major trophies before '97,including 1 lge in '55.They were pathetic.No history.Then they bought 15 yrs of trophies.Everything about CFC stinks.Anti football club.Ruined football

567 - IMO Utd started the rot followed by Chelsea and City. Fergie illegally poached the best youngsters and all that, but they were the only club buying international stars for stupid money year after year and paying stupid wages - they were being bankrolled. But plastics aside, I'd rather have watched Hoddle for a season than this Man city mob - its not all bad!

Obviously I want Bale to stay.If Levy holds on to his tings and gives AVB time to mould a team and grow,what with the new stadium,it will be v rosy times for Spurs.No league titles in my lifetime whilst the plastic clubs spend 100M a season & ruin football,but same goes for AFC with that.CFC ruined football.We can both forget the league whilst they spend billions buying it up.Bentner:No.Santos: No

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